Pitchfork: Brian Eno to Work With Roxy Music?

Since last year, the following reunions (among others) have occurred: Pink Floyd, Slint, Dinosaur Jr., Gang of Four, the dB's, the Olivia Tremor Control, and the Monkees. Just when you think hell can't get any more frozen, legendary glam rock outfit Roxy Music's prodigal son, Brian Eno, returns to the flock. He's returning halfway, anyhow-- the BBC reports that the upcoming Roxy Music album may feature Eno in some capacity, but that he will not perform live with the group.

After previously denying that Eno would rejoin Roxy Music at all, frontman Bryan Ferry spoke about his return at the Isle of Wight Festival this past Saturday, following a performance by the group. Ferry said, "I hope he's going to come in and do some things on a few tracks. No live work, but on the record I hope he'll come and do something, yeah." As fans of Roxy Music are well aware, strained relations between Eno and Ferry led to the former's exit after just two albums-- the 1972 self-titled debut, and 1973's For Your Pleasure. Since then some thawing has been visible (most recently, on Ferry's 2002 solo album Frantic, where Eno assisted with production and contributed backing vocals and keyboards for the song "I Thought".)

Eno carved out a little niche for himself as a solo artist and producer subsequent to his departure from Roxy Music. He released experimental pop albums, pioneered an entire genre of music (ambient), and contributed greatly to David Bowie's renowned Berlin trilogy (Low, Heroes, and Lodger), as well as major records by Talking Heads and U2. Did we mention that he also collaborated with David Byrne on the landmark My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, which influenced early hip-hop and sample-based music? In short, dude stayed real busy.

No title or release date for the new Roxy Music album has been set. Comprising the rest of the classic Roxy line-up are saxophonist Andy Mackay, guitarist Phil Manzanera, and drummer Paul Thompson, who will all be featured on the record.